Duncan Powell, the Providence player whose flagrant foul led to a fight and numerous ejections during Saturday’s loss to St. John’s, has been suspended three games, the Big East announced.
Nobody from St. John’s was suspended.
“After the on-court video review, game officials determined that Powell engaged in additional combative actions that constituted a fighting act subsequent to the flagrant foul,” the Big East said in a statement.
The punishment includes the NCAA’s automatic one-game suspension for fighting, plus an additional two games doled out by the Big East.
Powell was assessed a flagrant 2 foul after he struck a driving Bryce Hopkins — a former Friar — in the head with 14:25 remaining in the Red Storm’s 79-69 win at Providence.
A fracas between players from both teams ensued, with Powell then getting tangled up with St. John’s forward Dillon Mitchell.
Powell and Jaylin Sellers of Providence were ejected, as were Mitchell, Ruben Prey, Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Kelvin Odih of St. John’s.
Providence’s Jamier Jones was later ejected for shoving St. John’s star Zuby Ejiofor to the ground as the latter attempted a lay-up.
“We fully support the suspension that the Big East has issued to Duncan Powell,” Providence Athletic Director Steve Napolillo said in a statement. “His actions were unacceptable and do not reflect the values, discipline, or sportsmanship expected of anyone representing Providence College.”
Powell is set to miss games against DePaul, Xavier and Creighton. St. John’s and Providence do not play again this regular season but could meet in next month’s Big East Tournament.
The fight underscored a testy afternoon in which Hopkins returned to Amica Mutual Pavilion for the first time since transferring to St. John’s last offseason.
Hopkins, who played three seasons at Providence, heard heavy boos from Friars fans, just as he did from a traveling contingent during the teams’ Jan. 3 meeting at Madison Square Garden.
“The crowd, I think, lost objectivity on what they’re here for,” said St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino, who coached Providence from 1985-87. “If they’re just here to poke fun at Bryce Hopkins and not get a win for the Friars, that’s not the Friars [fans] I remember.”
Powell, a senior forward who transferred from Georgia Tech last offseason, never played with Hopkins at Providence.
Saturday’s fight prompted a 19-minute delay. Once play resumed, St. John’s (20-5; 13-1 vs. Big East) pulled ahead for good with a 13-3 run en route to its 11th consecutive victory.
“I feel like we responded in the best way possible,” Ejiofor said.
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